prefer not to have him in this house, any more at least than we can help

it. But who comes here? What a hurry we are in! Lizzie, my darling, be

patient."

"Here's this plague of a door barred and bolted again! Am I not to have

an atom of breakfast, because I just happened to oversleep myself? The

mornings get darker and darker; it is almost impossible to see to dress

oneself."

"There is plenty of tinder in the house, Eliza, and plenty of good

tallow candles," Mrs. Twemlow replied, having put away the letter, while

her husband let the complainant in. "For the third time this week

we have had prayers without you, and the example is shocking for the

servants. We shall have to establish the rule you suggest--too late to

pray for food, too late to get it. But I have kept your help of bacon

hot, quite hot, by the fire. And the teapot is under the cozy."

"Thank you, dear mother," the young lady answered, careless of words,

if deeds were in her favour, and too clever to argue the question. "I

suppose there is no kind of news this morning to reward one for getting

up so early."

"Nothing whatever for you, Miss Lizzie," said her father, as soon as he

had kissed her. "But the paper is full of the prospects of war, and the

extent of the preparations. If we are driven to fight again, we shall do

it in earnest, and not spare ourselves."

"Nor our enemies either, I do hope with all my heart. How long are we to

be afraid of them? We have always invaded the French till now. And for

them to talk of invading us! There is not a bit of spirit left in this

island, except in the heart of Lord Nelson."

<<BackPagesTo menuNext>>